Legazpi City - The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Alert Level 4 over Mayon volcano after it belched out a 10-kilometer high ash column at 12:45 p.m. on Monday. On a bulletin issued at 1 p.m., Phivolcs raised the alert level from 3 (increased tendency to hazardous eruption) to 4 (hazardous eruption imminent). Phivolcs volcanologist Paul Alanis said eruption “may happen in hours.”“The danger zone is extended to 8 kilometers all around the volcano,” Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum said in a phone interview. Evacuation of residents within the additional kilometer radius was immediately instigated by local government units. The volcano had started showing increased activity or unrest since January 14.

Source: The Nation Bangkok January 22, 2018 06:45 UTC